The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Monday the list of Division I student-athletes who earned USTFCCCA All-America accolades for the 2014 outdoor track and field season, and four UT Arlington sprinters were among those honored.
Junior Clayton Vaughn led the way with First-Team All-America honors in both the 100 meters and 200 meters. One of just three athletes to advance to the NCAA final in both events, he placed sixth in the 100m and eighth in the 200m.
In doing so, he became the first Maverick to take home multiple All-America awards in individual events in the same season. Vaughn, who twice previously earned Indoor All-America plaudits, picked up his first outdoor awards.
Vaughn also anchored the 4×100 relay team that earned Second-Team All-America recognition. The contingent of freshman Christian Clark, junior Cameron Newson, junior Quentin Butler and Vaughn placed 15th in the semifinals with a clocking of 39.60, just .05 off the same group's school-record clocking set at the NCAA West Preliminary Round.
The Mavericks had not had a 4×100 relay team honored since 2000, when that quartet placed eighth. With the relay award added, Vaughn became the first Mav to take home three All-America honors of any kind in one season.
"We are extremely proud of this group of young men," UTA coach John Sauerhage said. "It's an amazing accomplishment to have their names forever listed as All-Americans, and it's exciting to have them competing as Mavericks again next year."
In addition, junior Emil Blomberg earned honorable mention honors for participating in the 3000m steeplechase at the NCAA Championships. Earlier in the season, he broke his own school record in the event and became the Sun Belt Conference champion.
Student-athletes were honored for their performances at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Eugene, Ore. First-team honors were awarded to those who finished among the top eight in an individual or relay event as part of a team, while second-team honors went to those who finished between ninth and 16th. Honorable mention honors were given to the remaining finishers.
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